Stradbroke on radar for real deal Srikandi

By
TIM AULD

May 26, 2014, 4 a.m.

Srikandi’s connections will pay a late entry fee of $46,000 to run in the $1 million group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm next month following her impressive win in the $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Srikandi’s connections will pay a late entry fee of $46,000 to run in the $1 million group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm next month following her impressive win in the $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

Ciaron Maher’s exciting three-year-old filly took her record to six wins from seven starts when she defeated Belle De Coeur by a length, with Platinum Rocker in third place in the group 3 race over 1350 metres.

Maher, who has stables at Winslow and Caulfield, said Srikandi had thrived since she was stabled in Queensland nearly a month ago.

“She’s had three starts up here for three wins. She has just loved it up here,” Maher said. “She had a wide barrier today but was just too strong for her rivals.

“I think Srikandi was only .3 outside the course record, which is a great effort for a young filly who is still learning.

“If she is fit and well and trains on from Saturday’s effort we’ll push forward to the Stradbroke Handicap.

“The Stradbroke is a big jump in class but she will go into the race on the minimum weight.

“I don’t think the extra 50 metres of the Stradbroke will present any worries. Her efforts on the track mean she is a very valuable filly now.”

Champion jockey Glen Boss, who rode Srikandi, allowed her to push forward from her wide barrier after they jumped before cruising to the lead.

She kicked clear of her rivals on the home turn to scored a strong win.

The three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey, who has ridden Srikandi to her three Queensland victories, was impressed with her high-speed effort on Saturday.

“Today was the day to see if she was the real deal,” he said.

“I really wanted to find out a bit about her, see how good she is, so I let her roll forward and jeez, that turn of foot on the point of the bend is electric isn’t it.

“I love the way she applies herself. She does the right thing and relaxes herself well.

“She’s quite an angry thing too, which you’ve got to have for a filly. You’ve got to have that little bit of mongrel in you to be good.